Texas House Advances Republican Redistricting Bill Following Democratic Walkout

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a redistricting bill with an 88-52 vote, paving the way for Republican-drawn maps that could result in the GOP gaining as many as five U.S. House seats. This vote followed a more than two-week standoff during which state Democrats blocked the bill from advancing in the first special session. Democrats returned to the state on Monday for the second special session. The bill will now move to the Senate, and if approved, it will head to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature into law.

Republicans are pushing forward with the maps in an effort that has been backed by President Donald Trump. During the House session, Democrats voiced opposition to the bill, calling it a partisan power grab that would dilute the influence of nonwhite voters. State Rep. Todd Hunter, the sponsor of the maps, stated his support was partly for partisan reasons to give Republicans an opportunity they had not previously had. State Rep. Gene Wu and State Rep. Nicole Collier spoke against the bill at a news conference following the vote, indicating their intention to continue opposing the bill, potentially in the courts.

Texas House Democrats, who previously left the state to prevent a quorum over voting legislation, are planning to return home for the second special session, according to ABC13 sources. The current special session is set to end on August 19, and Speaker Dade Phelan has set a deadline for the Democrats to return in order to meet the quorum. If this does not happen, Governor Greg Abbott is expected to immediately call another special session. The main issue at stake is redistricting, with proposals that could increase GOP congressional seats by at least five.

On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a Tarrant County judge to jail former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke. Paxton claimed that O’Rourke and his political group, Powered by People, violated a temporary injunction by fundraising for and allegedly supporting Texas Democrats’ walkout over a new congressional map. The injunction, granted by Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey, temporarily blocked O’Rourke and his group from fundraising for Democrats or assisting them financially in connection to the walkout. Paxton’s motion referenced O’Rourke’s remarks at a Fort Worth rally on Saturday, where he solicited donations and made statements that Paxton argued defied the court order. The motion also cited O’Rourke’s social media posts and the use of a donation link. Paxton requested the judge imprison O’Rourke for the duration of the lawsuit and fine him $500 for each violation of the injunction. O’Rourke’s attorneys responded by arguing that Paxton was misrepresenting O’Rourke’s statements and the scope of the injunction.

On Friday, a Tarrant County District Judge, Megan Fahey, temporarily barred former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke and his political group, Powered by People, from providing financial support to Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state. The Democrats left Texas to delay the passage of a new congressional map and to prevent Republicans from moving forward with a redistricting plan. The ruling, granted less than four hours after a petition from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, prohibits O’Rourke and his group from fundraising for the Democrats or covering their expenses, including travel or accommodations, for unexcused Texas legislators during any special legislative session. Judge Fahey agreed with Paxton’s allegation that O’Rourke’s group had engaged in unlawful and deceptive fundraising practices. The order is a temporary injunction and represents a victory for Paxton, who is challenging U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming GOP primary. O’Rourke has denied the accusations and filed his own lawsuit against Paxton the same day in El Paso district court.

On Sunday, most Texas House Democrats left the state to prevent the Republican-controlled House from having the minimum number of members (a quorum) required to conduct business, thereby stalling a vote on a new GOP congressional redistricting map. The draft map, approved by a House committee earlier, is designed to give Republicans five additional U.S. House seats in the next year's elections. The Democratic lawmakers’ absence means the 150-member House will be unable to function, as at least 100 members must be present, so the absence of 51 or more Democrats halts the special legislative session. Most House Democrats traveled to the Chicago area, with smaller groups heading to New York and Boston. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu issued a statement about the move. The immediate result is the stalling of the redistricting map passage and legislative action during the special session requested by Governor Greg Abbott.

On Sunday, most of the 62 Democratic lawmakers in the Texas House left the state in an attempt to block the passage of a new congressional map that would give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year. Their absence prevents the 150-member House from having the 100-member quorum required to conduct business, thereby stalling a scheduled Monday vote on the draft redistricting map. The move effectively halts the legislative session during which Governor Greg Abbott had called for deliberation on the redistricting map as well as other issues. Most House Democrats traveled to the Chicago area, with some going to New York to meet Governor Kathy Hochul and others to Boston for the National Conference of State Legislatures legislative summit. House Democratic Caucus chair Gene Wu stated the group made the decision with "absolute moral clarity" and accused Governor Abbott of using a "racist map" to marginalize Black and Latino voters. As a result of the walkout, progress on both the proposed congressional map and other legislative priorities was thrown into uncertainty.